The Earliest Documented Outdoor Garden Fountains of the Historical Past

Towns and communities depended on working water fountains to funnel water for cooking, washing, and cleaning from nearby sources like ponds, channels, or creeks.
A supply of water higher in elevation than the fountain was required to pressurize the flow and send water squirting from the fountain's spout, a technology without equal until the late 19th century.
Fountains all through history have been created as memorials, impressing local citizens and travelers alike.
Crude in style, the 1st water fountains did not look much like contemporary fountains.
A stone basin, crafted from rock, was the 1st fountain, used for containing water for drinking and spiritual functions.
The original stone basins are presumed to be from about 2000 B.C..
The spraying of water appearing from small jets was forced by gravity, the lone power source designers had in those days.
These original water fountains were created to be functional, commonly situated along aqueducts, streams and waterways to supply drinking water.
Fountains with ornamental Gods, mythological monsters, and creatures began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., built from rock and bronze.
A well-designed system of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public fountains supplied with fresh water.

Roman Water Fountains: Michelangelo’s Works of Art

Two Florentine masters by the names of Michelangelo and Ammannati created the first Roman wall fountains during the 16th century.
In 1536 Michelangelo’s earliest fountain in the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, part of the façade of the Palazzo Senatorio, was unveiled.
The construction of a conduit from the Aqua Felice to the Capitol, which allowed for a more beautiful water display, was included years later.
Anticipating this, Michelangelo had added a more sizable basin styled on the late Cinquecento.

Was the famous artist the inventor of the wall fountain?
The fountain types found in Italy undeniably show the influence of his designs.
Further examples of this type of structure can be seen in the Fountain of the River Gods at the Villa Lante, Bagnaia 1, and the Fountain of the Mugnone which is found between flights of stairs on the central axis of the Villa Pratolino.

It seemed to be Michelangelo’s predestination to combine classic Roman characteristics into his fountains instead of using his own remarkable talents to design original pieces.
A brand-new fountain at the top of the Belvedere in the Vatican was commissioned by Julius III (1550-1555) and it fell to the talented sculptor to create an archetypal structure.
A marble sculpture of Moses striking a rock streaming water was to be built as embellishment for the fountain.

Rather than creating the Moses statue, which would take too much time to complete, an antique figure of Cleopatra was used in its place, however.
It was considered easier to use a classic piece of art above the fountain rather than have the illustrious artist design a totally new figure.

Cultural Statues in Early Greece

Even though most sculptors were paid by the temples to decorate the detailed columns and archways with renderings of the gods, as the time period came to a close, it became more common for sculptors to depict ordinary people as well mainly because many of Greeks had started to think of their religion as superstitious rather than sacred.
In some cases, a representation of affluent families' forefathers would be commissioned to be placed inside huge familial burial tombs, and portraiture, which would be replicated by the Romans upon their conquering of Greek civilization, also became customary.
A point of artistic progression, the use of sculpture and alternate art forms morphed through the Greek Classical period, so it is inaccurate to suggest that the arts served only one function.
It may be the modern quality of Greek sculpture that captivates our eye these days; it was on a leading-edge practice of the ancient world regardless of whether it was made for religious purposes or aesthetic pleasure.

The Positive Benefits of installing a garden fountain in Your Living Area

A great way to enhance the appeal of your outdoor living area is to add a wall water feature or an exterior garden fountain to your landscaping or garden design.
Modern-day designers and fountain builders alike use historic fountains and water features to shape their creations.
As such, integrating one of these to your interior is a superb way to connect it to the past.
Among the many properties of these beautiful garden water features is the water and moisture they discharge into the air which attracts birds and other wild life as well as helps to balance the ecosystem.
For example, birds lured by a fountain or birdbath can be helpful because they fend off irritating flying insects.

Putting in a wall fountain is your best option for a little patio area because a spouting or cascading fountain takes up too much space.
There are two types of fountains to pick from including the freestanding model with a flat back and an attached basin set up against a fence or a wall in your yard, or the wall-mounted, self-contained version which is hung directly on a wall.
Both a fountain mask placed on the existing wall as well as a basin located at the bottom to collect the water are necessary if you wish to include a fountain.
Since the plumbing and masonry work is extensive to complete this type of job, you should hire a specialist to do it rather than try to do it alone.

Build it and They Will Come: Water Features and Wildlife

Anyone who has bird feeders knows that outdoor water fountains bring in wildlife.
The truth is that birds need water to: drink, bathe and preen.
There are some birds, like robins, thrushes, orioles, or warblers, which are not attracted to bird feeders, but are drawn to fountains because of the moving water.

Birds are often drawn to outdoor fountains because of their flowing water rather than the standing water found in bowl-shaped bird baths.
Birds can hear the trickling and splashing and are even more likely to come visit.

Dogs are drawn to fountains mainly because they provide another source of water.
During the sweltering summer months, dogs and cats will be outside searching for clean water.
Consistently moving water is also going to require much less cleaning than a still bowl of water from a birdbath, which collects debris.

Cool Off in a Splash Fountain

People see splash fountains, or bathing fountains, as a great way to freshen up on days when it is extremely hot outside.
Due to this, they are often referred to as interactive fountains.
Designed for easy access, these fountains include nonslip surfaces, no standing water to prevent drowning risks, therefore requiring no lifeguard supervision.
These splash pads - known as "spraygrounds" - are many times located in public pools, public parks, or public playgrounds.
Dundas Square located in Toronto, Canada, features a splash fountain heated by solar energy which is then absorbed by the unique dark-colored granite slabs.
This water feature uses six-hundred ground nozzles in groups of thirty (three rows of 10 spigots).
Each grouping of the 30 nozzles is found below a stainless-steel grille.
The central path through Dundas Square contains 20 such grilles placed in 2 rows of 10.

Wall Fountains: Multiple Design Choices

If you do not have a lot of room, the best answer is a garden wall fountain.
They are beautiful and simple to put up, and you do not need a great deal of space.
It is not hard to find one that works for you since there are many price levels and design alternatives on the market.
You can pick from a broad selection of colors and sizes as well.
Many people go for these charming water fountains because they add so much charm to their outside walls.
It is also possible to get more than one fountain for an interesting waterfall sound if you have enough room on your wall.

A number of choices are available to you when it comes to putting in a garden fountain.
Two of the main things to be decided are which style to get and where to install it.